How to make a Bokeh effect background in Gimp! Can be used as textures on graphics!

How to make a Bokeh effect background in Gimp!

Have you ever seen those cool Bokeh backgrounds that look awesome if they are used as textures on graphics, or even as backgrounds? You can make your own.

NOTE: THE PICTURES ARE NOT SHOWING UP ALL THE WAY BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO BIG. IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE, RIGHT CLICK IT AND SELECT "OPEN IMAGE IN NEW TAB."

1. Create a new document. 1600 x 1200 works the best. Fill the background with black.


2. Create a new transparent layer and name it dark purple. (Make sure you name all of your layers because you will not know what it is later.)


3. Choose the color dark purple, and select the gradient tool. Change the shape to radial, the opacity to 50, and the gradient to FG to transparent.


4. Click the center of the black paper and drag your mouse outward so it creates a purple circle in the center.


5. Create a new transparent layer and name it as eclipse 1.


6. Choose the brush tool and change the color to white. Make sure the brush is on circle(19) and scale it to 10.00. Then click the brush dynamic options and change the values to the ones in the image below. Make sure you put checkmarks in the correct boxes. Now put a checkmark in the box that says apply jitter, and change the amount to 10.00. BEFORE MOVING TO THE NEXT STEP, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU DID EVERYTHING IN THIS STEP. YOUR TOOLBOX SHOULD LOOK LIKE THE IMAGE BELOW.


7. Now start painting on your paper. It should forms little circles everywhere.


8. Go to filters>blur> Gaussian blur. For this layer, use 40 pixels for the horizontal and 40 pixels for Vertical. When you click ok, the circles should turn blurry.


9. Create another layer and name it eclipse 2. Paint some more circles on the paper.


10. Go to Filters>Blur>Gaussian Blur. For this layer, use 10 pixels for Horizontal, and 10 pixels for vertical.


11. Create another layer and name it eclipse 3. Now paint some more circles on the paper. Go to Filters>blur>Gaussian blur and use 1 pixel for horizontal and 1 pixel for vertical.


12. Create a new layer and name it clouds. Fill this layer with white. Go to filters>render>clouds>different clouds. Change the detail to 4, and check the boxes that say randomize and tilable.


13. Change the layer mode to overlay.


14. Create another layer and name it gradient.


15. Select the gradient tool and change the gradient to Full Saturation Spectrum Gradient. Change the opacity to 100, and change the shape to linear.


16. Drag your mouse across the screen so that it’s covered in . Change the layer mode to overlay and it should look like this so far:


17. Go to layer eclipse 3 and change the layer mode to grain merge.


18. Go to layer eclipse 2 and change the layer mode to Hard Light.


19. You’re finally done! Here is what the final result should look like (right click to see the whole image as said above):


Here is another one I made using smaller circles (right click to see the whole image as said above):



Some tips:
-Try experimenting by changing things up a little, you never know what the results may be!
-Instead of using a gradient, try using another colored gradient!
-Try changing the size of your circle brush
-Try changing the background color from black to something else

The possibilities are endless!

It will probably take you a while to make this, but it sure is worth it at the end! The result is beautiful. (: Post your results below! I would love to see them.

cool :D imma try it~

EDIT: Here's my result -

Thanks, I hope it works for you Ariana.

that's amazing :D
thanks for posting :3

You're welcome Caroline!

OMG! :O
I have to try this out soon! xD
Awesome guide, Savanah!
Thanks!! :DD

Thank you lulu! :D

That is so cool Savannah :O I am going to try that out sometime! :D

Thanks Ashliegh! I hope it works. :)

I did it! :D

I'll try it later. (:
Thanks for posting. !

Ashliegh wrote:I did it! :D

That is beautiful Ashliegh! I am so glad it worked for you. :D

Mikayla♥Pikachu wrote:I'll try it later. (:
Thanks for posting. !

Okay Mikayla. You're welcome. :)

Thank You Savannah! ^-^

Ashliegh wrote:Thank You Savannah! ^-^

You're welcome. :D

I love how this looks. :D

Thank you Zoe! :)

Savanah wrote:Thank you Zoe! :)

Your very welcome.

Awesome job! It was really helpful! I used it as a backround for a siggie, if I ever finish the rest of it

Thanks Kenzie. :)

Your welcome :)

woah can't wait to try this. thanks!

You're welcome Ava.

I didn't use it for my siggie, I used it for something else. But I have no idea what xD
So here's what I got...

That is epic Kenzie! :D